By: Kimberly Maul Counterterrorism expert Richard Clarke, a former advisor to four presidents and the bestselling author of "Against All Enemies: Inside America?s War on Terror," has logged more than 30 years working in Washington. With that background, what does he have to say about the Dick Cheney/Scooter Libby controversy involving New York Times reporter Judith Miller, a friend of his since 1981?
Clarke recently spoke with E&P's sister publication,
The Book Standard, about the controversy as well as his latest book, and first novel, "The Scorpion?s Gate." Clark, who visited with Miller during her 85-day stay at Alexandria Detention Center, said the incarceration was ?a pretty horrific experience for her. It was not Camp Cupcake by any means.?
The case, which has caused clamorous media coverage of Plamegate, journalistic ethics, and the use of confidential sources, led New York Times ombudsman Byron Calame on Sunday to charge that the newspaper should launch an investigation into Miller?s journalism practices. Despite a growing number of detractors, Miller still has some supporters, including Clarke.
?I don?t know all the ins and outs of the case,? Clarke said. ?But it does seem to me that there is something wrong with a system that takes a woman who won the Pulitzer Prize for her reporting on al-Qaeda, at a time when no one else was reporting on al-Qaeda, and puts her in the same jail with Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called ?20th hijacker.? Moussaoui deserves it. Judy doesn?t.?
For these specific circumstances, laws need to change, Clarke said. ?I think most states have reporter shield laws and I think we need a federal shield law. I think Senator Bob Dole is right about that."
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here